The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

We made it through the Ides of March and St. Patrick’s Day in good fashion, with only a few sprinkles in between. Next, we will officially be in the spring mode as the Vernal Equinox occurs this Saturday at 10:32 am. Finally, all of us will be on the same page, both meteorologically and astronomically. Our friends “down under” in countries such as Australia and New Zealand designate the first day of September as the official start of spring.

St. Patrick’s Day locally had blue skies rather than green, of course, but according to scientists, a corononal mass ejection was heading toward earth this week, which could initiate auroras due to strong geomagnetic activity, causing the green light experience. Of course, you’ll have to head to far northern latitudes to see it. Imagine green skies for St. Patrick’s Day? Already, sightings in Norway have been very good.

We will certainly have clear skies tonight to view the northern lights if we were a bit further north. As a result, wind-sheltered areas should see frost. With the offshore winds from the east, temperatures will rise the further west one travels, making the ocean beaches a real delight.

During the daytime today and Friday, we will see highs in the 60s. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone reports a 70-degree reading in the Pacific Northwest on Friday.

I guess the only downside in the weather outlook is it looks like more clouds and showers are headed this way for next week. But then again, spring break begins around the Northwest in some locales. Typical, huh?

Pat Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at weathersystems.com.

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